Lilian Hak, Torchy and Bluesy

Lilian Hak recorded a beautiful session as a stripped down two-piece outfit with loops at WFMU that aired on This Is the Modern World with DJ Trouble. Lilian's music is not easily pegged. Think torchy k.d. lang, classic soul, early blues rock, and vocal jazz. Check her out and fall in love. This session is one of our favorites at the FMA.

Official Website | SoundCloud | YouTube | Facebook | myspace | last.fm | FMA | Store

Music License: Creative Commons BY-NC-ND Image: detail of cover of Old Powder, New Guns album
Artist Location: The Netherlands

Positive Messages To Get You Through

"Imagine what you could do, if you just believed in you?" -- Dawn Pemberton

Message Positive is an uplifting 18-track mix on the Free Music Archive with songs of positivity and inspiration to act.

The compilation jumps nations and continents and visits the genres of hip hop, soul, rhythm and blues, funk, ambient, chill, reggae, dub, rock, folk, singer-songwriter, rockabilly, blues, electronica, pop, novelty, children, dance.

Message Positive features Axial, BJ Block and Dawn Pemberton, The Crevulators, Eaters, Great Lake Swimmers, Higgins, Ill Papa Giraffe, Jon Rauhouse and Neko Case, Kelley Stoltz, Neko Case, Nobody's Bizness, Propaganda Anonymous, Salakapakka Sound System, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Spinnaface, Spinningmerkaba, Uncle Neptune, and Underling.

Every moment is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, baby.

[Download Message Positive]  

UPDATE: Sorry. Download stopped working when mix featured on FMA, 
so here is a rebuild. Hope it works for you now.
 

Music License: see individual track for license
Image: "Happy Sun" by pinkpuffball

Kevin Seconds Solo

7 Seconds was formed in the 1980s and remains among the longest lived of any group from the first wave of California hardcore punk with legendary records, like Crew and Walk Together, Rock Together.

Frontman Kevin Seconds continues to perform and record with 7 Seconds and has branched out into other avenues with his solo work. His release Don't Let Me Lose Ya is far from hardcore. The album is singer-songwriter relaxed rock and American folk "with the vitality of someone who is content to follow his muse," to quote Quote Unquote Records.

The album's label, Asian Man Records, describes it this way:

"Kevin Seconds' new album makes apparent what longtime fans already know: Kevin Seconds is a pop troubadour with a protest singer's heart, writing catchy, impeccably well-crafted tunes. "

Don't Let Me Lose Ya is available for free download with a suggested donation of $5. You can also purchase the album in LP, CD, and cassette formats at Asian Man Records.

Official Site | Donate | Buy Album |  Wikipedia | Bandcamp | Facebook | Myspace

license: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike

Yop Pop

Yop is a singer/songwriter from Rotterdam. Like some sort of home-made Brian Wilson variety he layers his songs, while at the same time stealing some tricks from the likes of Robert Pollard, Grandaddy, Kristin Hersh, Frank Black and Ray Davies. This free download is an esc.rec. re-release of the 2006 original that was self-released by Yop, but holds a previously unreleased bonus track to top the cake. -- esc.rec press release

Sylvia Stone

Debut EP from fresh talent, singer/songwriter Sylvia Stone.

"It is her soft distinctive vocals that really make songs come alive... it is her cool rather bohemian self that does that in an unassuming and sublime way."
-- Semper Azeez Harris, Flavour Magazine

"Sylvia Stone- expertly combining cabaret/burlesque imagery/style, big beats and post Winehouse vox, Ms Stone will turn a few heads... There's a bit of edge here and her voice, like her looks, is striking"
-- Tony Gleed, Bugbear

"Splendidly original, beautifully tuneful and also rather sexy Sylvia Stone's vocals are smokey and hypnotic"
-- Elly- Mixtapes London

Sylvia Stone is a female singer/ songwriter with a unique, arresting voice, striking self-styling and a gorgeous narrative to her writing. Her songsmithery ranges from tongue-in-cheek 40’s-esque blues and jazz, to epic cinematic belters all the way to bass heavy bangers, each linked together by Sylvia’s signature vocals, experimental song structures and melody arrangements. The girl is a genre-straddling, experimental artist with killer vocals and a clear vision to tickle the back of listener’s souls.

Recent Song Fights

Here are some of the most recent Song Fight battles: I Blame You Entirely, French Toast, and A Map for Your Wall. More in the archives. Maybe you will accept the challenge for February?

"Song Fight is a free Web site where Internet musicians enter their work into competition. Every ten days or so, one or more titles are posted, the competitors write a brand new song inspired by one of these titles, and the Internet at large is invited to vote for their favorite song for each title.

"Our goal is to provide a venue for new music and creative expression on the Internet."-- Song Fight

Seattle's Best Female Vocalist

Seattle-based singer/songwriter Shannon Stephens earned the Best Female Vocalist title in the Seattle Weekly 2012 Best Of issue. Preview and download her free EP, Cold November, by clicking the cover in the widget or here. Official Website | Facebook | Asthmatic Kitty | Bandcamp photo by Ankur Verma

Dainty White Mouse

With the sheep imagery and talk of circulation, Purity Ring's "Fineshrine" calls to mind the song "Mignone Souris Blanche (Dainty White Mouse)" by Echo Lali on their La Valise aux Mille Voyages album (free download).

license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License

 

MIGNONE SOURIS BLANCHE (DAINTY WHITE MOUSE)
Pets need to be treated gently, don't they? Tiny pets need extra care.

Mignone souris blanche comme un flocon de neige
Tombée un beau dimanche d'une branche légère
Jolie flocon d'argent au museau si malin
Pourquoi as-tu si peur que je sens dans ma main?
Battre ton petit coeur
Mignone souris blanche légère comme la mousse
Je te cache dans ma manche, pour ne pas que tu tousses
Jolie plume fragile au museau si malin
Lorsque je te caline j'aime sentir dans ma main
Battre ton petit coeur

ENGLISH:
Dainty white mouse like a snowflake
Fallen on a beautiful Sunday onto a light branch
Pretty flake of silver with a sharp muzzle
Why do you have the fear that I feel in my hand?
The beating of your tiny heart
Dainty white mouse light as foam
I hide you in my sleeve, so you won't catch cold
Pretty fragile feather with a sharp muzzle
When I hold you, I love to feel in my hand
The beating of your tiny heart

photo from Interspecies Love

Arrr, Pirate Songs, Matey!

Arrrr! Music makers of all ages are invited to make ocean or pirate songs for the upcoming PIRATE POP recording. If your song is popular with our listening team, your song will appear on the album. We look forward to hearing your entry, matey!

The deadline for submissions is June 15, 2010. Click here for details.

Good luck to all who participate in this contest! Thank you for sharing your work for kids!

detail of illustration "Pirates Vs. Ninjas" by Marcus Hadlock
[licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.]

New 2-CD Release from Josh Woodward

"I'm thrilled to announce that my latest releases are now available! There are two albums packaged as one, called 'The Simple Life'. The songs are from the frantic sessions over the past 8 months, and the versions here are vastly improved over the demos I put out. I've never been happier with anything I've released - I hope you enjoy it, too.

"As usual, you can download the MP3s for free, and you can also purchase a physical CD (name your own price!) to help support independent music."


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